VMware hybrid vCloud gets FedRAMP approval

By GCN Staff

Feb 06, 2015

VMware announced that its VMware vCloud Government Service (vCGS), provided by Carpathia, has achieved provisional authority to operate (ATO) through the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) program.

vCGS is a government community hybrid cloud service built on VMware’s vSphere data center platform. It lets agencies run new and existing applications in the cloud and offers on-demand compute, network and storage resources via a self-service portal or application programming interface (API).

With vCGS – an infrastructure-as-a-service offering – agencies using vSphere-based virtual infrastructure in the data center can move workloads easily between their internal data center resources and the vCGS, VMware said in its announcement.

It also allows agencies to use their existing investments in VMware tools and training, eliminate migration costs (because the platform is compatible with existing environments) and deliver the benefits of cloud computing with predictable costs, according to a blog by Carpathia.

With the new features, agencies can augment their IT infrastructure capacity, enhance continuity of operations and disaster recovery, support application development and testing, and host standard, packaged applications, such as email and collaboration, without re-architecting new infrastructure or retraining personnel on new technologies, tools and processes, VMware said.

The architecture incorporates many of VMware’s most advanced capabilities, including VMware NSX network virtualization and network security and vSphere vMotion for data and storage migration. It is built within Carpathia’s IBX Vault to ensure secure data protection. The IBX Vault is Carpathia's 64,000 sq. ft., Dulles, Va., data center, which offers colocation, managed and government compliant cloud services.

"Much of U.S. government IT runs on VMware virtual infrastructure, and VMware vCloud Government Service provided by Carpathia will enable agencies to extend their infrastructure to the cloud by leveraging the technology and personnel investments they have already made," said Pat Gelsinger, chief executive officer of VMware.

"Being able to offer a FedRAMP authorized cloud solution to a market segment with such broad adoption of our vSphere technology is critical to providing federal organizations the best alternatives as they increasingly turn to cloud computing to reduce costs, expand IT resources and services, and improve service levels to users," he added.